Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-20

of the white house during President
JacksOn's second term, died at the Her
mitage' on Aug. %, aged 81 years." The
few men and women of the court days of
the closing years of Andrew Jackson's
second administration who have survived
the intervening modicum of fifty years
of terrestrial being will recall the beauty,
intelligence and vivacity of this estimable
lady. But the announcement of her
death was to many of the living genera
ton the first tidings of her existence.
Andrew Jackson, Jr., was the foster son
of the president, and Mrs. Jackson, his
wife, was the daughter of Peter Yorke, of
Philadelphia. The Yorkes were family
of colonial and revolutionary distinction.
The grandfather of Peter Yorke held an
Office under the crown before the war for
freedom and independence began. Miss
YOrke was married soon after the begin
ming of President Jackson's second term,
which began in 1888, and entered the ex-
ecutive mansion as bride. The presid-
ing lady of the mansion was Emily Don
elson, who married her cousin, Andrew
Jackson Donelson, at the age of 16.
Major Donelson was protsge and conf
Dental adviser of General Jacks on, and
when the old hero entered the presidency
became his private secretary. When the
presidents foster-son brought his bride
to the white house the president himself
fixed their social status in playful re-
mark that "Mrs. Donelson should be
the presiding lady of the executive man
sion and Mrs. Jackson the mistress of
The Hermitage"
In 1886 Mrs. Donelson, who was in bad
health, went to her home in Tennessee,
leaving Mrs. Jackson to take her place in
the social regime of the mansion during
her absence. Consumption had fastened
Its relentless grasp upon the beautiful
form of Emily Donelson. As The gait
les of the following season were about to
commence in Washington she was carried
a corpse to the tenements of the family
dead in the little graveyard at Tulip
Grove. Weeping took the place of JOY.
The administration of Andrew Jackson
and the social regime of Sarah York Jack
ron ended in mourning.
The association of Mrs. Jackson with
the life of Andrew Jackson was during
the evening of his days and in the retire
ment of his home. Her dignifed and
affable ways always pleased him. His
pride in her knew no bounds. After he
laid aside the robes of state and once
pore assumed the garb of simple master
of Hermitage, she presided over his
household and entertained the friends
who came and went during the eight
years of his life after retiring from the
presidency. Mrs. Jackson's husband died
many years ago. The state of Tennessee
purchased the Hermitage and invited her
TO continue her residence there as its
guest She took formal charge of it's
domestic and social life in 1887, and
rounded an even half century when her
name was called from among the living
to its place in the archieves Of eternity.
The presiding ladies of the white house
still living are Harriet Lane Johnston.
who, bereft of her husband and son,
dwelis in dignified and comfortable re-
tirement in Baitimore; Mrs. Grant, who
lives in comparative opulence in New
York on the proceeds of her hero hus-
bands handiwork in the jaws of death
Mrs. Hayes, who, in the JOY of her hus-
hand ard family. presides her
household at Fremont, Ohio; Mrs. Gar
field, who lives at Mentor in the comfort
assured her by the fund raised by admir-
ing and sympathetic friends, and Mary
Arthur McElroy, who lives IN her own
home at ALBANY.